Stacey Dooley 'didn't have time' to collect MBE awarded in 2018

Life can get hectic when you’re Strictly Come Dancing Champion and an investigative journalist, and it can sometimes be a struggle to find time for the mundane things in life - such as picking up your MBE from her Royal Highness the Queen.

Step up Stacey Dooley because this is exactly what has happened to the 33-year-old.

The TV personality was one of the lucky people given a nod from the Queen in her 2018 birthday honours list.

Read more: Stacey Dooley rubbishes claims she's behind Kevin Clifton's Strictly departure

But two years on, busy-as-a-bee Dooley has still not made time to actually go and collect her Member of the Order of the British Empire medal, which she was awarded due to her services to broadcasting and work highlighting tough social issues such as domestic violence and sex-trafficking.

Dooley told the Mail on Sunday: “I was meant to collect the medal but I didn’t have time - I was working and I never kind of rearranged, so I must sort that out. It’s mad, isn’t it?”

In fairness is has been a busy period for Dooley - she won Strictly in 2018 and began a new relationship with pro dancer Kevin Clifton with the item becoming something of a power couple in the world of celebrity.

She has also been working hard promoting her book On the Frontline with the Women Who Fight Back.

Though it may seem she doesn’t value the award, Dooley previously wrote for the BBC describing it as an “honour” and that she was “delighted” to be awarded it.

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She also dedicated the award to the “incredible women” who helped shape her, including her mother, Di.

She said: “My mum is my absolute hero. She’s the most remarkable woman in my life. It was just me and her for a long time growing up.

"She had me as a single mum and she’s always worked incredibly hard. She used to work in pubs, clean houses, or do whatever she could to put food on the table," Stacey said.

“The thing I’ve taken most from her is her work ethic. She’s always worked really hard, and now I try to do the same.”